Going to Dubai

[TheRoot21]

The wife and I are heading to Dubai in a couple weeks to visit some family friends who were transferred there last year.

We are flying direct from Houston. I have never been on a plane for longer than a couple hours. Any advice for making the trip bearable?

What about once we are there? Anyone ever been?

 

[TexonLongIsland]

been twice. Amazing place.

Couple things to do:

1) go dune-bashing, sometimes called Wadi bashing. The concierge at your hotel should be able to set it up for you. They take you in a Landcruiser into the desert and tool around in the sand dunes. Most will then have a dinner set up in the desert beduin style with camel rides and belly dancing (tasteful of course)

2)go skiing at SkiDubai. The indoor ski hill. Even if you've never skied before, it's still an experience not to miss

3) Have a few pints at the Irish Village under the Tennis Center. Kind of messes with you head when you are in a bar straight out of Dublin, or Austin ie Fado, and you can hear the call to prayer from the mosques

4) Go down to the Gold and Spice Souk. Take a Abra (boat taxi) across the Creek. Only costs about 20cents each way and is fun, especially at night. You can hire an abra (I can't remember how much, but no more than 10 bucks) to take you on a private ride up the creek for about 1/2 hour or so

 

[Horneius_Maximus]

yeah the dune bashing is pretty cool. They have this package called a desert safari, where they take a land cruiser out on the dunes and they wrap they day up at a desert camp with belly dancing and BBq (kababs etc..)

You get to don the traditional garb, ride a camel and pretend you are a Bedouin (good times).

I think you also get the option to camp out in the desert.

Hit up some hookah parlors if you get the chance, they have good service and flavors of tobacco.

 

[PROVE EM' WRONG]

I went to Dubai last August, it's an amazing place, make sure you do a Desert Safari.

As for the plane ride, it's pretty ******* mesirable, an Emirates is pretty good. Especially their entertainment system, but then again its still 15 hours.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

wow.

regardless of the things I do in my life, the above suggestions seem unique

let's see...today should I ride a camel or ski?

 

[random horn]

In reply to:

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[TheRoot21]

unfortunately that isnt an option

 

[bularry]

we had close family friends move recently.

they did the family trip out in the dunes with the dinner, etc and said it was pretty cool.

 

[Ahab]

Gold and spice souks
Abra ride on the Creek.
Swim in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf
Shop at the Mall of the Emirates and at Madinat Jumeirah
Ski Dubai
Desert safari
Eat local fish like grilled Hammour and Omani lobster
Go for tea or lunch at one of the uber rich hotels like the Burj or Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi

Also, if you get a chance, venture out of the city to another part of the country where it is a little less western.

 

[HornInDub]

I was there 10 years ago, but I enjoyed making day trips to Sharjah and Al-Ain. There was a really cool market in Sharjah that had, among other things, pretty good deals on persian rugs.

 

[TheRoot21]

So I am also looking for suggestions about the flight, we are flying direct from Houston to Dubai, and I have never been able to sleep on a plane.

Also, what about dress for my wife? I know they are pretty modern, but should she be concerned about anything in particular?

 

[Ahab]

Western women dress normally. She would probably want to avoid wearing shorts or anything revealing in the souks and malls. Many Western women wear slacks or capri pants. My wife pretty much wore capris and tee shirts every day. At beaches and hotels, women wear the full range of normal swim wear.

We dressed the way we dress here, and didn't get a second glance anywhere in the Emeriates.

Hope you find a way to sleep on the plane. It is a long trip. Most long-haul flights have a seatback tv in coach now days. Check out seatguru.com to make sure you get a good seat.

 

[RunTex]

Just returned myself and flew Emirates back to Houston. That is a long flight! Spend the extra grand or two and upgrade to Business class. First class is amazing but it runs 10k R/T.
Do you know what part of town you are staying in? I was at the Hyatt Regency and loved it, really nice place.

 

[BoogityBoy]

Ambien